Liquid dispensing container

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention include a liquid dispensing container and lid with a straw releasably attachable below the lid, the container with a first configuration allowing a user to sip liquid from the container at a first location when the straw is attached to the lid, and a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the container, at the same first location, when the straw is not attached to the lid.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to U.S. Design patent application Ser. Nos. 29/804,408, 29/804,404, and 29/804,412, all filed on Aug. 19, 2021.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Reusable drinking containers and water bottles are increasingly popular, in part, due to a desire to be more environmentally friendly by avoiding disposable, more single use containers. Despite myriad drinking container variations in the prior art and within this market, varietal demand is seemingly unending, and users crave novel functionality and design. To illustrate, one broad category of simple reusable drinking containers are those drinking containers incorporating a lid that allows a user to pour liquid from the container in order to drink. Another category is represented by drinking containers configured to use a straw as an integral part of the system from which a user may sip to drink. There is some crossover in these categories. For example, drinking systems of the first category may be retrofitted to the second category through aftermarket and/or straw accessory purchases. Other crossover solutions are operationally and aesthetically complicated and reliability-disadvantaged by mechanisms like internal valves and valve selectors and multiple drinking apertures and/or locations.

There is a noticeable absence of minimalist product configurations whereby a user has the option of readily selecting between optimized pour and sip drinking functionality in a single, out-of-the-box drinking container system. What is needed is a new drinking container with out-of-the box pour and sip functionality achieved by robust and minimalist design and functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above, a new and innovative liquid dispensing container is provided. The problem of out-of-the box pour and sip functionality achieved by robust and minimalist design and functionality is solved by: a liquid dispensing container with a body and lid, the lid with a passage for conveying liquid, and a straw releasably attachable to the lid at a location below the passage, the container having a first configuration that allows a user to sip liquid from the first passage when the straw is attached to the lid, and a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the first passage when the straw is not attached to the lid.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To further clarify the above and other aspects of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The drawings may not be drawn to scale. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a liquid dispensing container.

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of an exemplary lid in one embodiment of a liquid dispensing container.

FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of an exemplary lid of a liquid dispensing container.

FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of an exemplary lid in one embodiment of a liquid dispensing container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

The present invention in its various embodiments, some of which are depicted in the figures herein, is a liquid dispensing container.

Referring now to FIG. 1 , one embodiment of a liquid dispensing container 100 is shown. Container 100 is comprised of a body with a reservoir configured to hold a liquid 102, a lid attached to the body 101, and a straw 103 releasably attachable to the lid 101. In various embodiments, lid 101 may have a hinged cap 105 and angled carry handle 104. Body 102 may be any size, but preferably, embodiments include relatively large sizes, such as approximately one-half gallon capacity. Body 102 may be constructed of any number of materials, but preferably, embodiments include bodies of metal (such as, for example, stainless steel) and/or glass (such as, for example, borosilicate). In some embodiments, especially those where the body is glass, fitted, removable silicone sleeves may surround the body 102 as a protective and/or non-slip surface. In embodiments wherein the body 102 is metal, the body may incorporate multiple layers, insulation, and/or vacuum sealed construction and have silicone/non-slip rubber bases.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , greater detail of the lid 101 is shown in an illustrated embodiment. Lid 101 may have passages to facilitate functionality whereby a user may drink from the container by either sipping or pouring from it, and in preferred embodiments, achieving such functionality through a single aperture. More specifically, lid 101 has a first passage 201 for conveying liquid from the body to a user. First passage 201 may be shaped as an elliptical truncated cone-shaped spout. See FIG. 3, 201 . In preferred embodiments, this first passage 201 is the only aperture and location from which a user drinks when using the lid 101 of the container 100. A second passage 202 may be located underneath the first passage 201. Together, first 201 and second 202 passages may form a single channel for conveying liquid from the body 102. A third passage 203 may be generally located at a center of the lid 101 for ventilating the body 102 and facilitating continuous movement of fluid within the dynamic pressure conditions of normal operation and use.

Straw 211 may be releasably attachable to the lid 101 within the second passage 202 through, for example, an interference fit. Significantly, in various embodiments, the straw 211 is ordinarily not extendible into and/or beyond the first passage 201 when it is placed in the second passage 202. In this sense, the container 100 differs greatly from more traditional containers wherein the straw extends the drinking interface from the lid surface to a position above it. Although straw 211 may be made of many different materials, in preferred embodiments, straw is reusable plastic.

Hinged cap 206 provides access to the first passage 201 and is pivotally attachable to the lid 101. Hinged cap 206 may incorporate various protruding members designed to engage lid locations for several purposes. For example, hinged cap 206 has a first protruding member 207 configured to extend through the first passage 201 and form a first snap fit of the hinged cap 206 and lid 101 between the first 201 and second 202 passages. In various embodiments, the first protruding member 207 may accomplish this snap fit through a flanged terminal end 209. Hinged cap 206 may also have a second protruding member 208 configured to form a second snap fit of the hinged cap 206 and lid 101 at a lid edge. This second snap fit may be facilitated by a type of key and groove 204 in the lid 101. Hinged cap 206 may also have a third protruding member 210 configured to open and/or close the third passage 203 for ventilation.

In operation, liquid dispensing container 100 may have two or more configurations, with differing functionality, based, at least in part, on the structure above. For example, in a first configuration, a user can sip liquid from the first passage 201 when the straw 211 is attached to the lid 101. Such sipping may occur at a spout on the lid and not away from the lid through, for example, an extended straw. In such a configuration, tilting the container results in no or minimal poured liquid from the container. In contrast, in a second configuration, a user may freely pour and drink liquid from the first passage 201 when the straw is not attached to the lid.

Thus configured, the problem of achieving a new drinking container with out-of- the box pour and sip functionality achieved by robust and minimalist design and functionality is solved.

The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

I claim:
 1. A liquid dispensing container comprising: a body with a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a lid attached to the body, the lid having a first passage for conveying liquid; and a straw that is releasably attachable to the lid at a location below the first passage; the liquid dispensing container further having a first configuration that allows a user to sip liquid from the first passage when the straw is attached to the lid; a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the first passage when the straw is not attached to the lid.
 2. The liquid dispensing container of claim 1, the first passage forming a spout.
 3. The liquid dispensing container of claim 1, the lid further having a second passage configured for releasably attaching the straw.
 4. The liquid dispensing container of claim 3, the first and second passages forming a single channel for conveying liquid.
 5. The liquid dispensing container of claim 4, further comprising a hinged cap for providing access to the first passage, the hinged cap pivotally attachable to the lid and having a first protruding member that extends through the first passage and forms a first snap fit of the hinged cap and lid between the first and second passages.
 6. The liquid dispensing container of claim 5, the hinged cap further having a second protruding member that forms a second snap fit of the hinged cap and lid at a lid edge.
 7. The liquid dispensing container of claim 1, the first passage generally in the shape of an elliptical truncated cone.
 8. The liquid dispensing container of claim 3, the lid further having a third passage for ventilation generally located at a center of the lid.
 9. The liquid dispensing container of claim 8, wherein the hinged cap also provides access to the third passage.
 10. The liquid dispensing container of claim 1, the lid further having a generally angled carrying handle.
 11. A liquid dispensing container comprising: a body with a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a lid attached to the body, the lid having a first passage for conveying liquid, the first passage formed as a spout and a second passage located below the first passage, the first and second passages forming a single channel for conveying liquid; a straw releasably attachable to the lid within the second passage; a hinged cap for providing access to the first passage, the hinged cap pivotally attachable to the lid and having a first protruding member configured to extend through the first passage and form a first snap fit of the hinged cap and lid between the first and second passages; the liquid dispensing container further having a first configuration that allows a user to sip liquid from the first passage when the straw is attached to the lid; and a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the first passage when the straw is not attached to the lid.
 12. The liquid dispensing container of claim 11, the hinged cap further having a second protruding member configured to form a second snap fit of the hinged cap and lid at a lid edge.
 13. The liquid dispensing container of claim 11, the first passage generally in the shape of an elliptical truncated cone.
 14. The liquid dispensing container of claim 11, the lid further having a third passage for ventilation generally located at a center of the lid.
 15. The liquid dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the hinged cap also provides access to the third passage.
 16. The liquid dispensing container of claim 11, the lid further having a generally angled carrying handle.
 17. A liquid dispensing container comprising: a body with a reservoir configured to hold a liquid; a lid attached to the body, the lid having a first passage for conveying liquid, the first passage formed as an elliptical truncated cone-shaped spout and a second passage located under the first passage, a third passage for ventilation generally located at a center of the lid, the first and second passages forming a single channel for conveying liquid, and a generally angled carrying handle; a straw releasably attachable to the lid within the second passage through an interference fit, the straw not extendible into the first passage when it is placed in the second passage; a hinged cap for providing access to the first passage, the hinged cap pivotally attachable to the lid and having a first protruding member configured to extend through the first passage and form a first snap fit of the hinged cap and lid between the first and second passages, and a second protruding member configured to form a second snap fit of the hinged cap and lid at a lid edge; the liquid dispensing container further having a first configuration that allows a user to sip liquid from the first passage when the straw is attached to the lid; and a second configuration that allows a user to pour liquid from the first passage when the straw is not attached to the lid. 